rr9000

At MP, there may be something to this, but at IMPs, this sounds to me like it has a good chance of trading a plus score for a minus score. 1) 23 points or so may often make 2NT when the points are ~ evenly divided, but dummy could be very short on entries. 2) If the hand will be useful as dummy in notrump (as opposed to being a good hand for suit play, see below), it should be useful on defense. 3) The opponents may not even have an 8 card fit on this auction. 4) If the opponents actually do have a fit, then we usually do, too, and it'll play better than notrump (for all the usual reasons, including entries to the weak hand), and it may behoove us to optimize methods for finding it. Does this make sense? Counter-arguments? RR9000

I'm seeking opinions on how various expertish partnerships are treating balancing 2NT calls in contested auctions. A recent auction (playing five card majors with strong notrump, 15-17) was 1D - 1H - P - 1S 1N - P - P - 2H P - P - 2N What would 2NT show in this auction? If your agreements would vary with form of scoring, please specify that, too. Neither side vul, if it matters. More generally, under what circumstances, if any, would you play a balancing 2NT as natural in a contested auction? I have a vague recollection of a book that served as the starting point for much of my own thinking on this many years ago, but I can't remember what it was or find anything among my books. Does this ring a bell? Thanks! RR9000

I think I do recall seeing Gib bid 2NT on hands like this, but my partner thought starting with a 2D response was a better idea. Perhaps he would have considered the ugly 2NT more seriously if he'd thought more about his rebid problem. Perhaps not. Gotta get out of this pickle some way or another. I'll be interested to see what people say. RR9000

Playing cheapest minor rebid as a double negative following a 2C opening, what do you bid after 2C - 2D; 2H - with xx Jx KJxx ATxxx ? 3C would show the double negative, but nothing else seems quite like it fits. Thanks for suggestions! Cheers, RR9000

1C - P - P - to you and you hold spade void, Axxx, AKJxx, AKxx. What's your call and what's your plan? If you double, pard bids 2S. Thanks! RR9000

Pard and I play maximal doubles and are generally content with the standardish rules for when they apply (only when both sides have a fit and our opportunity to make any game try in a major has been taken away because the opps are bidding in the suit immediately below ours). This auction came up today: 1D (P) 1H (2C) X* (3C) to you * support double We have a major suit fit, although it may be only 7 cards. 3D sounds more like competing in diamonds than like a game try, so our space for any heart game try has effectively been removed. Should double be maximal here? More valuable to have it just card-showing, most likely with only 4 hearts and no good diamond fit? Thoughts! Thanks, RR9000

Pard and I play Rosenkranz doubles, but we had an auction come up where we weren't sure whether it should apply. (1S) P (1NT) 2C ; (2H) to you - what do X and 3C show? According to http://www.bridgebum.com/rosenkranz_double.php , for instance, you have to be able to raise at the 2 level for Rosenkranz to apply, but I'm not sure why this restriction should be in place after a 2 level overcall. It's still a raise showing an honor versus a plain single raise. Thoughts? Thanks! RR9000